Pull up a chair and get comfy, because today we are getting to know someone you’ll want to be besties with by the time you scroll to the bottom of this post. Trust me. Equal parts gorgeous, sweet and talented, Amanda of Little Miss Mrs is just the kind of girl you want to know. And her desire to dream big is infectious. Go ahead, get ready to get your girl crush on.
SMP: Tell us a little about your business.
Little Miss Mrs is a stationery and custom design boutique, specializing in wedding invitations, custom “Year in Review” infographics, and fine paper goods with personality. All of our designs are as gorgeous as they are quirky. They’re as smart as they are stylish.
I launched my business with nothing more than a free trial of Adobe Illustrator, a creative gene, and the belief that there were people who wanted more unique, more personal, and way more fun wedding invitations. I paid 20 cents to list my first item for sale on Etsy and have since sold over 80,000 pieces of stationery and opened my own online storefront. I also own Amanda Burton Design, a creative design studio that provides trendsetting art direction, branding, and print design for small businesses.
SMP: Some words you live by?
“At the heart of everything is family.” It took a while for me to express this in a single phrase but I so deeply believe this. I can make any business, design, or personal decisions by boiling it down to whether or not it’s going to serve my family or other families.
SMP: What did you think your dream job was before your dream job found you?
I thought it was so many things but really I had no idea. I wrote a post a couple months ago about how important people in my life gave me clues when I was on the wrong track. I think the real problem was that my dream job didn’t exist. I had to design it by following my passion. I know that’s SO cheesy! But so true.
SMP: What’s your favorite quote that describes your creative process?
“The only thing that makes people great is their willingness to not be great along the way.” –Seth Godin
SMP: If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?
Don’t be afraid to fail! It’s inevitable, and it happens to everyone. I consider myself a pretty optimistic person, but I struggle with failure like anyone else. The key is how you recover from disappointment and mistakes—because you will have them. What I’ve learned is that you just have to have faith or you can’t survive. They don’t teach you that in business school. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of what they teach you in business school!
SMP: What is your favorite item in your home?
This giant, silly photo of my son at our wedding. He is a year old in the photo, wearing a bowtie, deviously sticking his tongue out and running towards our wedding photographer…. It is the perfect reminder not to take anything too seriously.
SMP: What’s your best tip for balancing work and personal life?
My best tip is to set very clear boundaries about when you will and won’t work, and then be very disciplined about sticking to them. My son was born before I started my business. Actually, my son was born before my now-husband and I “were ready” to be parents. Sometimes I think about how much more I could accomplish each day if I didn’t have to stop working every afternoon and switch back into mom mode. But if that were the case, I wouldn’t be living a very balanced life. I would miss out on all the joy and experiences that help build strong families. I wouldn’t have toddler giggles to help me clear my mind and remember who I am. Here I go again turning on the cheese factor. Agh, I can’t help it! For people, women especially, who care as deeply about their work as they do their family, it is so easy to try and mutli-task all the time. This is especially true if you have a home office. I’m not perfect at this (How easy is it to check email while supervising my son’s bath? SO easy.), but it is something I am constantly working on so I can be fully present for my family during family time and fully present for business during business time.
SMP: What color do you think will stand the test of trend time?
Pink will never go out of style. I can say that without bias because I’m not a pink girl. I’m much more of an aqua/turquoise girl, but pink always finds a way into my space—in one shade or another.
SMP: If you could buy yourself a single gift of any cost, what would it be?
A private jet for my family to travel anywhere in the world at any time.
SMP: Your secret to success?
I wish I had the secret! But I think one of my secrets (not anymore!) is journaling. I’ve kept a journal since third grade. Oh, and sleep. In her book, “Thrive,” Ariana Huffington writes about sleeping your way to the top. Yes, please. Don’t have to tell me twice!
SMP: One small design change that can make a big impact?
A patterned area rug
SMP: One place everyone must visit in their lifetime?
Cinque Terre, on the coast of the Italian Riviera
SMP: The best job you ever had?
Founder and CEO of Little Miss Mrs
SMP: Advice you’d give to your younger self?
When I was five years old my father passed away. My sisters were 13, 7 and 3. At the time, my mom did not even have a college degree. She worked really hard, went to school at night, and eventually became a teacher, but we were always strapped financially. The advice I would give to my younger self is work hard and don’t worry, because the best is yet to come. I still need this advice from time to time. One of my favorite quotes is from a devotional I had in college. I always come back to this quote when I’m feeling really meh: “He has plans that would dwarf yours in comparison.” It’s an interpretation of Eph 3:20 from the Bible, but no matter what your faith the message is powerful: “Relax chica! Something even better is coming.”
SMP: Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’m really interested in personal development and encouraging other women who are as passionate about their businesses as they are about their families, and being moms. I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to play out, but pursuing that passion is definitely part of the 5 year plan!
SMP: Why do you think your business has done so well?
First of all, there have been plenty of things that I have not done well. I’ve still got a lot of time left to make mistakes! But I think the reason I’ve done well so far is because I really, truly care about the clients I serve. I try to create an online retail/service experience that feels as warm as doing business with your neighborhood brick-and-mortar store. Uniqueness, quality, attention to detail, and making customers feel loved might seem like little things, but they make a big difference. Not only for them, but for me too.
For example, I was contacted by this woman, Amy, to create a custom infographic for her father’s 70th birthday gift. I got to learn about her and her siblings, their childhood, and some of their most cherished memories of their father. That’s a privilege that I didn’t take lightly. I teared up a few times while creating this design because it was Just. So. Thoughtful. And I kept thinking how lucky I was to be able to use my design skills for something so meaningful.
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Photography: Jessa of Love & Light Photographs | Calligraphy: Fleur De Letters | “Make it Happen” print:Lara Casey Shop | Acrylic Canvas Painting: Megan Carn | Aqua Desk Accessories: Poppin | Area Rug:Target | DIY “Recycle” Can Sticker: Little Miss Mrs | DIY “Recycle” Can Sticker: Amanda Burton blog | DIY Glitter Coasters: Amanda Burton blog | Frames: Ikea | Gold Sequin Camera Strap: Sam and Kate Design | Inspirational Prints: Little Miss Mrs | Rustic Wire Letter Sorter: Target | Thank You “from here” Card: Little Miss Mrs
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